Dust of the Rabbi Session 1 Personal Study

FAITH LESSONS ON THE DUST OF THE RABBI

Sessio n

Walking with the Rabbi Day by Day

Faith Lesson (4 minutes) S[rhen talking about the people of Beths aida,Ray said, "'Sfe tend to think of ourselves as individuals. In their wodd, they . . . ultderstood rhat community is more important than the individual."

1. Sflhat role does community

One: When the Rabbi Says "Come"

In-Depth Personal Study Sessions

play in your walk with Jesus?

DayOnelGalilee:The Heart of Jesus'Ml inistry I

l 2.

The Very Words of God

| In what way(s) Etght yorr indiYidualsm affe"t rytl:*attd your commitment to be a disciple of of discipleshil

l

Jesus?

;

-

!ou" -"tt ttttot?bout

*" s*a

Galtlee, ted&tna tn tbelr syagogues,

p@cbing

tuux or tbe htnsdom, ard beauns eoerx) dr'ease and st kness

ama^e tuep@Pt. M.dlth'w1.23

i 3.

whtch a6p€cts of spiritual comouljtF lo Chorazin )ou want to lncorpofate into youf llfe?

Closing R€ad

1

mght

i I i I I I

Bible Dlscovely

wnyeonet atnoWu.sus traveled through much of Isra€l from Pho€Dtcl4 to J.",oA"-, he focused hts mjlnistry in the smzll ar€a of Galilee. Here, withln about 4 four'by_six_sllc

ar€a on dre north and

nordlw€stem

shorts of the Sea of c'alilee, he llved and taught in places named Bethsatda, Capemaum, chot:azin, Megdala, and G€rmesareth.

(l minute)

John 2:6 aloud: "Whoever claims to llve in him must v.alk as

Jesus dld.?

Then ask c'od to us€ this session and J,our tlme ofpersonal study to h€lp )ou s€e disciplesh.tp as Jesus s€es it. Ask hlm to glYe J'ou a heaft

thatdestr€sabove

arretsetowrrkrnthedustoftheRabbr.

t Jffffiffi"5#;"*ff"H;i.?,trfllilg:il::] thew

Memorize vboetet cl4htts to ttue tn Um

Mt

uqlk

6Je 1

s

tohn

.UiL

26

1Ot5

-7t

15t21

-24)

FAITH LESSONS ON THE DUST OF THE RABBI

Like any rabbi, Jesus taught using metaphors and images familiaf to his audience. (See Matthew 7:L5 - 20; 13 47 - 52; Luke ZO:9 - Lg.) \flhat do these passages reveal about the life and people of Galilee? How do you know the people understood what Jesus said?

3.

Session One: When the Robbi Says "Ceme"

ffiwffiws*fiwm

No matter where he went, people paicl attention to Jesus. W.hether they wanted to or not, it seems they recog nized in him the authority and presence of the kingdom of God. .What

have you learned about Jesus and his message through his ministry in Galilee?

'W.hat is your What about his message has caught your attention?

fesponse?

How did Jesus respond when his message of repentance and prepararion for the kingdoln of heaven moved people to action? How dicl he respond when it did not seem to have an impacr? (see Matthew LL:20 - 24; L5:2I - 28; Mark 2:L - l2-)

4.

I

DayTwo lWhat ls a

Ra

bbi?

I

Thm Wwry Wwrds mff ffiwd I{otu tbere u)as

a.

mtn of tbe Pbarisees natned

lt{icodemLtrs, a, member

of

tbe Jeuish ruling council. He came to Jesus at nigltt and said, "Rabbi, ue knou) you Are a teacber uho bas conte from God."

r

.

-.:. .: .

,

.ifrC:'

,

ffif;fuf;w ffi$sqm\nffitrp

neopte'of

(Nlatthew to,heart tebuke t. , ..,..'. . . ,,.,.,,', '

',,

John 3:l - 2

..-'.:. '::

...

Foi,the first'fiity'to bevbnty;five Veais after Jesus ascended to heaven, the Christian community was stronger,in Galilee than anywhere else in the world.

ChOruZln; Bettrsaida, and Capernaqm took Jesus' ferf rafs 1:l

:20-24)

The Role of the frabb;i

.;l

In Jesus' clay, becoming like the rabbi was the driving motivation of a disciple's life! For years a disciple wanted to hear everything the rabbi said, know everything the rabbi knew, and do everything the rabbi did. Today, however, the idea of, respecting someone so much

that we would dedicate great effort to following hirn so closely is foreign to us. 'What was so special about a rabbi?

FAITH LESSONS ON THE DUST CF THE RABBI

Session One: When the Rabbi Says "Come"

1. .

PROFILE OF A RABBI

,

tn

.l'ei;;' dtt;

i nubbi was: not the formal head 0f a religious community 0r

it#gbOUUis Weihin[

ot a rabbi today lnstead ,

oiiffii'giien-tOond'WHffitpffid

A first-century rubbi had a uniclue lifestyle, and the Scriptures give us insight into what his daily life was like.

a.

Where did a rabbi live? How did he find food and shelter? (See Luke 7:35; B:I - 3; 10:5 - 11")

b.

'W.here

,:.bb.iy?- an honored term

ano taught the Hebrew Bible. Rabbi

Came from a Hebrew r00t mean..,:meani.,,my SuperiOrn oil"my, master" and

,.,ing rgrgot,',0r,'mgil!,", Disciples and others used this term to refer to great

','iinolaii inu tAicherS,oi tne SCribtuie$ who were also known as "sages.n' Att61.

tngUeiiiuiiion oi ihe temple in ierusalem in 70 AD, rabbi became

tormaltitte tor,sage," ,:,

,

i nannii

' ,

piayea

-.n0

:r

,

I

a

,'

anlmp6ffiffiin

the Jewish spiritual culture because there

did a nbbi teach, and who listened to him? (See Matthew 5:L -2; Mark 6:6; Luke 4:I4- L6;7:36, 40 - 43.)

he time of Jesus. Each rabbi taught his disand obeyed, and his disciples will: ,ciples how,the,Torah should be interpreted teacher submitibo toltrrailntdibieta{ion, A ranni, then, was an honored

ffi|1., 5Omin#6.b

li:',.ihCIti

' *rlo *as '''ioi

ttre Hebrew Bible. He was highly respected as for his ni* kn6w'ledgg, intl'rpretation,'end teaching 0f Scripture as well

weil vAised

lfi:iffifi'bf

perso*ir'iigntafiuineis,'Foilowing a rabbi required a deep commitment ,

on

ihe'piri of tfiC oiscipid-ilho Wouidilive with and follow the rabbi day in and d;i;ufior v*aii,iiloiuei to leain to be like him and live in obedience to God

.astneianbiuio'..'' 'fi;iffiiioinriU*n$Wim

2.

What teaching technique comnlon to the Galilean rabbis did Jesus use? F{ow did the \^/ay Je sus taught his disciple s differ from how he taught the crowcls? (See Mark 4:33 - 34.)

3"

\Yhat types of people recognizedJesus as a rabbi (teacher)?

W.hat does this tell you about his teaching? (See Luke 7:39 - 40; 12:I3t 19:39; 20:27 - 28, 39 - 40; John l:35 - 3S.)

00drook priority over everythins.so a rabbi

'lnn hii'di$CiBies itpieai1y'*eie highty

respected by others in the communitv. ilt'0r';itrnabo farnily group usually provided housing and food for a .labbi and his'di$cibies' Because of the high respect for study of the Torah,

'-

''ffiittneffililaiieiuingother.peopletothekingdomofheaven

'irh

iid *',co *, each oiscibr* wut expected to honor the rabbi even ffitr.ih,ail'his aW* iiuru* tr is diffiCult for Christians today to imagine such r*l anocdilhiidilt"it'a fiuhan teacher, but that was the norm in Galilee'

FAITH LESSONS ON THE DUST OF THE RABBI

Session One: When the Rabbi Says "Cetrrre"

...':''.:r:;';i':..'..

,..'..,.t.h'el.,H

b

i.....tBXt...,in,.,.,t,he,education

of Jews in Galilee. A comparison of this

',,dC,Silil,,ildfi:',!d..i$$uS; riiA,,ihoWs that he closety fonowed the customs of his

'place:

,.'','time.,and.

-'..*

,i

i'

i'

',.{H$u$-'i$fe,W..ifi..Wi$d0m", as a boy (Lu[<e 2:52).

...S."u

$U

otthe commandments" indicated by his first

.,.nddbfi$.d.ihe.';iuttitlins at age twOlve (Luke 2:41

ii;.'i.|l.iii",P*$$$0Ver ,..'....'.'..

't.f :,',,,, i

,,0tS,rin.,the'.tem$le.,id,U,ri,ng Ue'$,U$...

- 47). His excellent

questions for teach-

that Passover indicate the study he had done"

H,arned'4.'traue With,

h

is fathe r (Matthew

13

:

55).

.....,'.,.i

'i,,''s...,,..,il,0$U$.,'.S

.Bntl,.fime.

with,John the Baptist, a rabbi (John 3:22-26;4:1-3).

fHe''.fact..tHat..,,UB$u$

and his disciples were baptizing might suggest that

,i,"i,',ii.''.

'.,..'..,.....'''....teS.U.$'..and..'J0nn,,maV,,,.haVe

l"'.1,....lt AUH,Hil,,'i,$.',,:ffi$.nti.oned:,.,in

stUdied together 0r with the same teacher. No

scripture, although Jesus did say he "learned"

l...l::......,.{ilbnfi.''t.5l1.5[1.1....l.....:....'.l i''..,.3..N.,Ue$U$:i.b'

thirty" (Luke 3:23).

caffiiri.fi'rfHbbi,.at,,",about

DayThree I f<now, Love, and Obey the Text I

Y'hm Wery Blessed,

Wmrds

mS

ffimd

rather are tbose utlto hear tbe uord of God and obey it.

Luke

1l:28

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Living by the Ward Jesus came to people who knew the Scriptures. They expendecl great effort to study and memorize the texto to debate its meaning, to teach it to other people, and above all else to obey it. As you

-

-

take a closer look at Jesus' ministry, consider how essential the text was to all that he did and said"

1"

Read the following passages and note Jesus' love for the

Scriptures, his desire to learn and understand them, his

FAITH LESSONS ON THE DUST OF THE RABBI

Session One: When the Rabbi Says "Come"

faithfulness in obeying them, and his commitment to teaching them to othefs" How badly do you want to follow his example?

a.

Matthew 4:L -

Jesus have shared the Scriptures effectively if he had nor memofized them? s0'hy or why not? (See Matthew 5:Zl, 27, 31,

11

3.

b" Luke 2:4I - 47, 52

c.

John I5:I4 -

33,38, 43;9:10 - 13; L2:1 - B")

s7hat do the following passages show you about Jesus' knowledge of Scripture ancl his commitment to obey it? (See Matthew 4:13 - 17;8:16 - t7; Zt:T - 6; Z6:jZ - 56.)

15

,,

FOR,GREATER UNDERSTANDING, r,

.."ln.Maffh,bW, 5,iii;':.'le$US...iaid, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the et$;'' t,laV0 not cgme to abolish them but to fulfill them."

'i..,,.,,llaW.';...0,r...th0.'''...P.iO ...',

,iil.,.ihi$.....$tatafi

nt';.,.,lbiui,uiao technical rabbinic terminotogy. Abotishmeant

..:....10'...ihterpf$t'...$Cnntufe'So,

that it would not be obeyed as God desired . Futfilt

r,',,meuafit.td,.,ht0r$ret,scriptuie

.'.'.tle$u$,.u---

hb$e.,,.,t0rimS;

so it woulo be obeyed as God intended. S0 when

,his audience would have heard him say,

"l did not

h0,,.Scripture s0 you would not keep it correctly. I came ',..',',i.,.co.m0,.tCI.ffii,$lhierpiA

',.,,.to,|nte,fpfet,iiS0'..that iou,Witl t<now how to keep it correcily."

4.

Z.

When he taught, Jesus continually referred to the Hebrew Bible that was so familiar to his audience. In the book of Matthew alone, he quoted the Hebrew text at least thirty-eight timesl As you read the following passages, notice how easily rhe rext flowed from his lips as he spoke. Vhy did he base so much of his teaching on the Hebrew Scriptures? Could

In whatway didJesus use his knowledge of the Scriptures in Luke 24:13 -32? $fihich Scripture didJesus use? What do you think his teaching must have rneant to the two men when they rcalized who he was?

FAITH LESSONS ON THE DUST OF THE RABBI

Session One: When the Rabbi

Says,'Come,,

3t

Day Four I tUnagogue: practicing Faith

'in Community

ffiefBms*Bmrs

Jesus came from a community that knew the Scriptures, and he expected his disciples to follow his example and become like him.

He expects no less from his followers today. Yet many of us do not know much about the text he knew and loved, and we have memofized even less of it"

How cln we do what Jesus commands if we do not know his

.Word?

Thel/eryWords of God Tbey utent to Capernaunt, and wben tbe Sabbatb came, lesus utent lnto tbe synagogue and began to tea.cb. Tbe peopte utere amazed a.t rtis tea'cblng, because he taught thern as one ulto bad autbority, not as trte teacbers of tbe lau.

Mark l:21 - 22

Is it time to dedicate yourself to knowing your Bible and using it as the foundation for your life and witness? How will you begin?

How would memofizing Scripture reinforce your desire to live by its truth in your daily life?

ffififuHffi

ffi$scww#try

Discoveri ng the Syn agog ue

The synagogue was central to the life of religious Jews in Galilee.

It was where the faithful learned the Scriptures, how to interpret them, and how to obey God. So, how did Jesus and his disciples relate with the synagogue communities in Galilee? The scriptures give us some surprising insights.

1. Matthew 4:zj -z5i 9:35; t2:9 - t3; 13:54- 58; Mark t:zt -zB; If you are serious about beinga disciple, ask God to fill you with his Spirit and give you a desire to become mofe like Jesus who knew and loved the Vord of God.

fulmpmwr$mw

The prophet Jeremiah memo rizedso much Scripture that he literally could not stop mentioning God or speaking in his name. How passionately do you want God's Tirord to burn within you? A good place to start might be to memofize the following: But if I say, "I will not mention Ltim or speak any more in bis name," Ltis usord is in my beart like a fi.re, a fi.re sbut up in my bones. I arat, uentry of Ltolding it in; indeed, I cannot.

Jeremiah 20:9

Pray for the same love for the $flord as Jeremiah had. \-

and Luke 4:14-30 arejust a few of the passages that show Jesus participating in community worship in the synagogues of Galilee.

a.

When Jesus taught, how was his message receivecl? \il7hat impact did his message have on the religious commu.What nity? do you think Jesus wanted to accomplish in the synagogues?

b- 'What else did Jesus do in the synagogues besides teach? vhat

was his purpose in cloing these things?

FAITH LESSONS ON THE DUST OI" I HE RABBI

.PROFILE

OF THE SYNAGOGUE griginally,:the synagogue was not a specific building but a place where God's :

' pdpfe Oatfreied in his presence around his living Word, lt was sometimes ' liriao i-nruie ;t priyur, because in the Jewish mind the verb translated ,,,,,

pffimeans worship as well as prayer, Synagogue began before Solomon's

temprewasffiidtedi'bUitnA pfactice became essential to the Jewish faith 'AS;*ir*a

jffilili*ti0fi;

rano of tsraet, they brought

Sessio n

One: When the Rabbi Says "Coffie"

f,t..tO'r$Adlanid''$tu,ily,'t6e,$b,HptUies and listen to the rabbis proclaim their interI1t'|pfi

tm.6fi$''$f1tH,uffixt.t',.rnilr.children attended synagogue schools where they

j.i'.:le#fn H'ilff''fU'fi i:.....Wffte1.,'ehd,.m6morize i;1..'eXnre$$HH'.'.ifi| .HdndtUl'.,0f ,,$m.all .'tH$di$ut$fe$'.1fif

pfirafidn

I ,lil '8VBlly Way.' ,

,'.1.:..' '

:::..

synasosue-the

. ::.: : i ..: .!.

2.

to study and worship in God's Frflctice sf corning together as a community with them. By the firs"t cenlull]ilsrael, larger community build,, presence ,,'ingi we;e nuift{o serVO aS'mbeting places for synagOgue. Soon the name ::

,,

r

..- '..

,,''' - ",,,

.

'

the text. Thus the community worship,

synagogues in Galilee, contributed greatly to

,tor,tollow

Jesus, their Rabbi, and become like him

,.

'Sflho \Mas Jairus

, and what cloes his relationship with Jesus tell us about Jesus' relationship with the local synagogue?

(See Luke B:40

-

56")

apptieotoihe buildings where community study and worship ottfre:$eiiptures togk'blaie, S0 during Jesus'time, the synagOgue was both

"iyriiliitiii*ui

.Scr:iptuieandprayer. ''.';,

'

,.,Ii.,i

t,

.

tl

3.

.

ilil;;;il[ffilh

*tar*unt

rote in the lives or relisious Jews who lived

the atong the noittr anO northwe$tern shores of the Sea of Galilee, Although iew' traveleO to tn*temple in Jerusalem to worship three times a year, they '

According to Acts 16:13 * X5; 17:l - 4, what clid Paul and Silas do on the Sabbath as they traveled through h{acedonia?

'Sflhat do these (and many other passages) reveal about thcir involvement in the synagogLte community? (Rememtler, a house of prayer is another way of saying synagogue.)

*ops:niBeUffiriily'with family, friends, and neighbors in the local synag6gue.

Thdftffi

iertolls were kept in the synagogue, s0 peOple went there

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:,.',..,THE,.,TRUTF|:.

..i;

',,,,

,i:.

0F

.:

TH E, MATTER

...r'BHH$tififi$iitUdAV,,,,.t6nd,t6.,t 1..,...w .,lilI[,,,,ffih$,. but

.ifr

ink tnat the theology and teaching 0f the Pharisees

Was not. The Pharisees were faithful Jews who worked

iG,$a.ifi,

i$ i..,6flBibl#text$:,,,the! fd,:$

i,t

iati,::,,ifiet,did.

Wbre trying to obey God! Jesus called some of the Fhari-

....sCIB$.,,,hVpoCfft0$.,,..H6cdil$e.,they ,::,.:,0f

.lll,ili

That's why they had s0 many apptications

Uidn't practice their own teaching (and some

,theii'',,0Wn,,'Wfiting$ Criticize this as well). Some other Pharisees were s0 $.lni.fi $.i,fi.,.,,ifit

,.intd,i$ildtaildni

fiil tfitiOni of the scriptures that they refused to consider the oi..'b'th;is-inctuding the interpretations of Jesus. Despite

,l::.,their'ifipe'rfOitiOn$l 'th,0,,,,::Phariiees made knowledge of the Scriptures and i:

obedienie't6,Gootop piior1tes in lite.

FAITH LESSONS ON THE DUST OF THE RABBI

ffieffiewâ&#x201A;Źcmm

Session One: When the Rabbi Says "Come"

Bible Discovery

Although many Christians today think that Jesus called his disciples away from theJewish faith and community, that is not the case.

Jesus and his disciples continued to participate in community life, including synagogue worship, throughout his minisrty Even when his disciples went out into the wodd beyond Israel, they sought out and continued to be a part of the faith community of the synagogue.

This is not to suggest that you must join a synagogue in order to followJesus, but active involvement inafaith community is necessary.

How essential is your faith community in your walk with God? How does it help you focus on obeying God in all things at" all times?

Do you have a community of people with whom you share a mutual love for and delight in the Scriptures - people who encoutage you to learn and study the Vord of God? Remember, the reading of the Torah in the synagogue made the people dance with joy!

Following the Good Shepherd

The image of the shepherd and his sheep is frequently used in Scripture as a metaphor for the relationship between God and his people. Not only that, God often chose shepherds to lead his people.

Abram (Genesis l3:l-5), Moses (Exodus 3:1), and David (1. Samuel t7:14- 15), for example, all were experienced shepherds. This image sent a powerful message to the people of lsrael because even to this day a flock of sheep in Israel is dependent on the shepherd for survival. Israel is not a.land of knee-high grass and abundant water. The shepherd must lead the sheep daily to gtaze on short tufts of grass on hillsides and to drink from widely scattered sources of water.

Without the shepherd's leading, the flock would die.

The shepherd/sheep image describes the intimacy, dependence, obedience, and faithfulness that charactefize the rabbildisciple relationship as well. The rabbi walks ahead and leads his disciples by his voice. Just as sheep follow their shepherd without understanding why the shepherd leads where he leads, disciples follow the rabbi by faith, trusting him to lead them in the right way to the right place.

Following the rabbi is just as much a matter of life and death for the disciple as it is for the sheep that follow the shepherd.

1.

'What

2.

Although the previous passages give us positive images of \nrhat the shepherd does for the flock, we can also learn much about the Good Shepherd by kno\nring how bad shepherds offend him. Ezekie I 34:1 - L6 paints this picture vividly.

As you read this passage, ask yollrself how much and in what

is lacking in your life, ask God to lead you to such a community so that you can become more like Jesus.

lf a spiritual community

do the following passages reveal about what a shepherd does for the sheep? What do these images say to a disciple who is following theFrabbi, the Good Shepherd? (See Psalm 78:52- 55; Isaiah 40:10- 11.)

DayFivelff.r. Rabbi as Shepherd I

Y$xs Wery kWmrds #$ ffimd

I am the good sbepberd; I know my as tbe Father knouts me and lrfe

for tbe sbeep"

I knout

sbeep and my sbeep krcow rne tbe Fatber

-

-iust

and I lay doutn mj,t

John I0:14-15

FAITH LESSONS ON THE DUST OF THE RABBI

ways the Good Shepherd loves his sheep. Tfihat difference would it make to a disciple (to you as a disciple) to be led by such a Rabbi?

Sessio n

One: When the Rabbi Says "Come"

*ffiffiiffitrffi-ffiar'wtat Jesus tausht in Matthew 25:3't-46, particu#i*fmffi*ffi?ffiH"f:$'Witt separate the people one from another as a ;$gffg$#.gpl[*$.$$,sfeeO from the soats. He will put the

sheep on his

Wl$S,{:

Then the King willsay to those on his right, "qn1ttt 4ffit--0!^u$sed by my Father; take your inheritance, the king$mm"g[t$+Fg.q-"tpgifl1rqe19.reation of the world.' ... Then he will say to you who are cursed, into the eternalfire."' *$S$;gd#$lg[$f#,ryrtfrorn rne, and the goats isthatthe sheep obeyed

U"F,g 3.

InJohn 1O:1 - 16, Jesus portrays himself as the Good Shepherd. Vhat is he saying to his talmidim that will instruct and help them as they follow him and seek to be like him?

flFqffiHdr$heep

#t.*gprqi#i$

l*y,!.t

*$ #-Hffi'Wf,ffiTJqe

rn

he would do. The soats, on the other hand, had

eq th e

shephe

rd

Reflection Psalm 23:1- 4 is avery familiar Scripture passage, but take a fresh look at it. Read it slowly and thoughtfully. Meditate on what it means in terms ofJesus being your Rabbi (Shepherd) and you being his disciple (sheep).

Dl[l.'.Y0U..KN0W?''.]... .il:il100fitffiry]i:$ne*$u-wfi:1fffi0w thfir,snepn1ro,,,go1lr often wander 0n their 1:l,]'0wnlu]'iaWa ii,,,..G6at$.i,

ffrum',..,th,u..,.|.ehu,'n,h,erd',$,,

chosen path, the "path of righteousness."

efiUire,extra,,att0hti6n, t.fOrn the shepherd because they think they

.

As you live life, how carefully are you listening for the Good

Shepherd's voice?

.

How passionate is your desire to follow his every step, to be like him in every way?

.

How much do you long to walk obediently in his paths of righteousness?

.

How fully do you trust him to lead you when you do not know the way?

.

Who will be with you when danger threatens?

If the Good Shepherd is your Rabbi, what qualities do you need to cultivate in your life to be a true disciple? When he says, "Come," will you follow?

OUti THE- SH EPH ERD'S PATH, BUT TH E GOATS' '$:crATT$REDi:nC*Rffi5 THE HILLS|DE, CHOOSE THEIR OWN WAy. ,'.,r:tr,H8,',g,llElE,P:,FOt

FAITH LESSONS ON THE DUST OF THE RABBI

O

F l-

futrernmrixe

I knou my sheep and my sbeep knou) me -iust as tlte Fatber knows me and I knout tbe Father - and I lay dou;n my

I am Ir,fe

tbe good sbepberd;

for

Iifi

tbe sbeep.

Jahn l0:14-15

V/HEN THE RABBI SAYS "GOI In the previous session, we learned some of what it meant to be a rubbi, an honored teacher whose life revolvecl around following God, knowing the Holy Scriptures, and making disciples. In this session, we will focus more attention on the disciples the motivation, commitment, and training of the young men who devoted themselves to walking in the footsteps of the rabbi so that they might learn to follow God. We will discover some of the lessons Jesus taught them on the ancient paths he once walked. And we will stand with him and hear his final cornmancl to his disciples, "Go, and make disciples . . . teaching them to obey . . .."

For a moment, reflect back to when Jesus walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee and saicl to some fishermen, "Come, follow me," and they left everything to do so. Now fast-forward to a sunny, spring day on a rocky, uninhabited hillside above the small Galilean villages of Capernaum and Gennesareth and below the village of Chorazin. Beautiful red flowers sway in the breeze. Waves on the Sea of Galilee sparkle in the distance.

Jesus, the beloved and now resurrected Rabbi, stands with his eleven disciples.

The disciples had walked about XtO miles fromJerusalem to this place where Jesus had told them to go. Jesus met them there, in Galilee, where for a few years they had shared so mlrch together" 'W.hen he spoke, his challenge stirred their hearts as it continues to stir our hearts today: 'All authority in heaven and on earth has